What happened to Marshalltown’s data center ordinance?
Marshalltown is revising a proposed data center ordinance after removing several protections from earlier drafts, including size-based classifications, a water-use trigger, enhanced public review and decommissioning requirements. The article questions whether those changes were made transparently and who influenced the ordinance, including prospective developers and economic-development interests.
A review of Marshalltown’s data center ordinance drafts found that provisions addressing large-scale and infrastructure-intensive projects were removed during the process. Earlier drafts required additional review for projects exceeding 60,000 square feet or using at least 75,000 gallons of non-domestic water per day, along with consideration of utilities, transportation, environmental conditions, emergency services and decommissioning. Numerical low-frequency noise limits and some cooling restrictions were also scaled back.
The Planning and Zoning Commission informally directed staff to remove the Master Development Plan process, and later drafts eliminated related size classifications, water thresholds, public hearings and decommissioning requirements. At an Oct. 26 City Council meeting, officials struggled to develop a replacement method for distinguishing smaller facilities from hyperscale campuses and sent the issue back to Planning and Zoning. The article also raises questions about input from the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce, Alliant Energy and prospective developer Amir Atefi, arguing that the city should disclose who requested changes and why before adopting the ordinance.